Adventures in Tap Dance & Travel.

It’s been a while since I’ve written. I’ve longed to write, and with every passing Sunday (the day I originally chose to release my weekly post), I’m reminded more and more of how much I’d like to refine my organisation and time management skills.

That said, for me, 2017 is quickly solidifying itself as a year of optimistic excitement. Much has been happening.

A New Tap Dance Adventure.

I have hinted at the possibility of creating a new tap dance show, and over the last few months, it has become much more than a possibility. With each passing day, it is becoming more and more likely to eventuate on a stage within the next 1-2 years.

While I mostly feel overwhelming excitement for the concept (which I can say – without ego – has a strong chance of resonating with an audience), I am staring down the barrel at the somewhat terrifying slog that comes with creating something new. My past experience creating and producing my own work for stage has come with a significant quantity of both stress and fulfilment, and I am well aware of both the enormity and the risk (calculated risk, of course) of such an undertaking.

That said, I am roughly 97.5% certain this project will happen.

Fortunately, past experience has also been a good teacher. While I hope that I have not over-inflated or over-convinced myself of my abilities to happily complete a project of this scale, I am happy to say that on this occasion, an investment in myself looks to be a worthy one.

It’s early days, but I am discovering more and more as the project continually evolves. I will share more soon.

A Birthday-Travel-Photography-Road-Trip.

My partner in life, love, adventure and tap dance recently had a super-special birthday, and rather than celebrate with a traditional party/booze up, she chose a 14 day road-trip adventure from Brisbane to Sydney to remember this occasion in her life. I was, needless to say, thrilled that her chosen partner to be by her side for this adventure was me.

Our chosen method of transport/accommodation was Campervan. We stopped at a number of pre-chosen destinations, generally staying a few days at a time before moving on. Wherever we went, the agenda was virtually the same: take photos, taste coffee (and in the case of the Hunter Valley, wine) and to simply be free.

Despite only a single Campervan related mishap in a covered carpark that displayed not a single vehicle-height-restriction-sign, it was a magical road-trip; one that will be with us forever.

From Brisbane, our stops (in photos) were:

Currumbin (quick stop in at my family home)

Byron Bay

Yamba

Port Macquarie

Nelson Bay / Shoal Bay

Hunter Valley

We enjoyed a birthday celebration with Tiarna’s family in Sydney, before making the 13ish hour return journey to Brisbane over 2 days, stopping at Wauchope to visit my Grandmother, and Grafton to spend our final night.

Australia

I’ve heard many people talk about the importance of exploring your own country in addition to others. This brief road trip has been many things for Tiarna and I—both individually and as a couple—but for me, it has been a reminder of the incredible beauty of Australia, both inside and outside of urban areas. There really is no place like it, and while there is much to explore on the other side of the oceans surrounding our beloved island out here in the middle of no-where, I will always be glad to call it home.

Tiarna

Brisbane, for now.

There’s so much to love about Brisbane, but I have come to realise that there are traps to be mindful of, namely:

Convenience

Affordability

Proximity to home (and family)

Delightful, year-round warm weather

These are all lovely, and one could make a very happy, very comfortable life in Brisbane (one day, perhaps). But for now, there is a calling to explore further. I don’t know what it is, but something within is speaking loudly; beckoning me to accept that it’s time for a new adventure.

I have much yet to see and do, but I’ve seen and done enough to know that this particular voice is most certainly to be trusted.